A report shared with CNBC reveals that London significantly trails other major European cities in terms of 5G connection quality.

Berlin emerged as the leader in overall 5G experience, with MedUX attributing its success to factors such as network consistency and low latency. Rafael Galarreta, CMO of MedUX, praised Berlin’s proficiency, particularly in areas like video streaming and data for over-the-top (OTT) media platforms.

MedUX employs robotic assessment methods to evaluate fixed and mobile wireless internet broadband, collaborating with telecom providers, regulators, and enterprises to identify and address network issues.

According to the report, Berlin boasts the highest 5G coverage among European cities, reaching approximately 89.6% of its population. Additionally, Berlin leads in 5G streaming quality, boasting an average latency of less than 40 milliseconds.

On the overall 5G quality benchmark, Berlin, Barcelona, and Paris secured the top positions, with Lisbon, Milan, and Porto following closely behind. Conversely, London ranked near the bottom of the list for European 5G networks, with approximately 77.5% of its population currently having 5G access on their devices, which is below the urban average.

London’s performance in downlink speeds also disappointed, with MedUX data indicating an average download speed of 143 Mbps. In comparison, Lisbon boasts 528 Mbps, Porto 446 Mbps, and Barcelona 326 Mbps. Munich, the second-lowest performer for 5G downlink speeds, recorded average download speeds of 259 Mbps.

Galaretta attributed the UK’s struggles in 5G network quality to factors such as speed, accessibility, and network responsiveness. He highlighted the impact of the UK’s decision to ban Huawei from its 5G network, suggesting that the delayed deployment and subsequent disruptions may have affected overall coverage and user experience.

Despite the ban on Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant reportedly maintains a significant presence in the UK’s 5G network, accounting for around 41% of the infrastructure. Regulatory challenges and industry mergers and acquisitions further contribute to the complexities faced by British carriers in enhancing 5G quality.

The report underscores the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges faced by London and other UK cities in improving their 5G infrastructure and service quality to align with their European counterparts.